Portrait of Adolphe-William Bouguereau

Adolphe-William Bouguereau Giclée Fine Art Prints 2 of 9

1825-1905

French Academic Classicism Painter

Adolphe-William Bouguereau (1825-1905) was a French academic painter known for his realistic and mythological works. He was a prominent figure in the art world during the 19th century and was highly regarded for his technical skill and attention to detail.

Bouguereau was born on November 30, 1825, in La Rochelle, France. His father was a wine merchant, and his mother was a descendant of a family of painters. Bouguereau showed an early interest in art, and at the age of 12, he began studying drawing under a local artist named Louis Sage. In 1841, Bouguereau moved to Bordeaux to study at the École Municipale de Dessin et de Peinture, where he studied under Jean-Paul Alaux. In 1846, he won the Prix de Rome, a prestigious scholarship that allowed him to study at the French Academy in Rome. During his time in Rome, Bouguereau was exposed to the works of the Italian Renaissance masters, which greatly influenced his style.

Bouguereau returned to France in 1850 and began to establish himself as a successful artist. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create lifelike, almost photographic, representations of his subjects. His works often depicted mythological scenes, religious themes, and idealized representations of women and children.

Bouguereau's style was firmly rooted in the academic tradition, which emphasized the importance of drawing and the study of the human form. He was a staunch defender of the academic style and was critical of the emerging Impressionist movement, which he viewed as a departure from the rigorous standards of academic art.

He was appointed Commander of the Legion of Honor in 1885 and was made Grand Officier of the Legion of Honour in 1905. Bouguereau was a highly influential teacher at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Along with Alexandre Cabanel, he played a significant role in the French art establishment and was a major figure in maintaining the academic tradition in art during a time when it was threatened by modernism.

Bouguereau's work was characterized by his focus on mythological themes, classical subjects, and an emphasis on the female human body. His paintings often featured idealized and carefully painted realistic forms set against romantic, idealized locales. Despite facing criticism from some avant-garde artists, Bouguereau enjoyed significant popularity in France, the United States, and other countries during his lifetime. His reputation experienced a revival in the 1980s, leading to a rediscovery of his work and appreciation for his contributions to the art world.

208 Bouguereau Artworks

The Lamb, 1897 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Lamb 1897

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10281-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:181.3 x 92.1 cm
Private Collection

Distraction, 1868 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Distraction 1868

Giclée Canvas Print
$76.51
SKU: 10280-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:61 x 50.2 cm
Private Collection

The Reading, 1895 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Reading 1895

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10279-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:116.8 x 80.6 cm
Private Collection

Morning Breakfast, 1887 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Morning Breakfast 1887

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10278-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:90.8 x 55.9 cm
Private Collection

Le Voeu a Sainte-Anne-D'auray, 1869 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Le Voeu a Sainte-Anne-D'auray 1869

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10277-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:147.3 x 89.5 cm
Private Collection

Glaneuse, 1894 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Glaneuse 1894

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10276-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:106.7 x 65 cm
Private Collection

The Veil, 1898 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Veil 1898

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10275-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:114.3 x 80 cm
Private Collection

Girl with Pitcher, 1885 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Girl with Pitcher 1885

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10274-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:96.5 x 61.5 cm
Private Collection

Amour and Psyche, 1899 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Amour and Psyche 1899

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10273-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:218.7 x 129.2 cm
Private Collection

Night, 1883 by Bouguereau | Paper Art Print

Night 1883

Giclée Paper Art Print
$47.49
SKU: 8335-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:47.6 x 31.8 cm
Private Collection

Young Shepherdess, 1887 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Young Shepherdess 1887

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 8334-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:157.5 x 73.7 cm
Private Collection

Temptation, n.d. by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Temptation n.d.

Giclée Canvas Print
$69.66
SKU: 8333-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:58.7 x 79 cm
Private Collection

The Italian Girl with Basque's Tambourin, 1872 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
SKU: 8332-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:141.6 x 106.7 cm
Private Collection

The Storm, n.d. by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Storm n.d.

Giclée Canvas Print
$50.29
SKU: 8331-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:90.8 x 50.5 cm
Private Collection

Dawn, n.d. by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Dawn n.d.

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 6297-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

Study of a Woman for Offering to Love, n.d. by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
SKU: 6296-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

Our Lady of the Angels, 1889 by Bouguereau | Paper Art Print

Our Lady of the Angels 1889

Giclée Paper Art Print
$47.49
SKU: 6295-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

Portrait of Leonie Bouguereau, 1850 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Portrait of Leonie Bouguereau 1850

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 6294-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:28.5 x 23 cm
Private Collection

Head of a Little Girl, 1888 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Head of a Little Girl 1888

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 6293-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:24 x 18.5 cm
Private Collection

Italian Girl Drawing Water, 1871 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Italian Girl Drawing Water 1871

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 6292-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:119.5 x 79 cm
Private Collection

The Jewel of the Fields (Detail), 1884 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Jewel of the Fields (Detail) 1884

Giclée Canvas Print
$70.11
SKU: 6291-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Jewel of the Fields (Detail), 1884 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Jewel of the Fields (Detail) 1884

Giclée Canvas Print
$62.44
SKU: 6290-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Cupid and Psyche as Children (Detail), 1889 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
SKU: 6289-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

The Song of the Nightingale, 1895 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Song of the Nightingale 1895

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 6288-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:139.7 x 89 cm
Dayton Art Institute, Ohio, USA

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